You've probably been there. You wake up, coffee in hand, ready to check your portfolio or execute that trade you’ve been mulling over all night, only to realize the charts aren't moving. It’s a weirdly quiet feeling. If you are asking is the New York Stock Exchange open today, the answer depends entirely on the calendar, but since today is Saturday, January 17, 2026, the short answer is no. The Big Board is closed.
The NYSE, like most major global institutions, sticks to a pretty rigid schedule. It doesn't do weekends. It doesn't do "grind culture" 24/7 like the crypto markets do. It operates on Eastern Time, and when the clock hits Friday at 4:00 p.m., the floor basically goes dark until Monday morning.
But there is a catch this specific weekend. Even if today were a Monday, you'd still be out of luck very soon. We are currently sitting right in the middle of a long holiday weekend.
The 2026 Holiday Schedule and MLK Day
Most people forget that the market doesn't just close for the "big" ones like Christmas or Thanksgiving. In 2026, the market has a very specific set of holidays where the doors stay locked.
Since today is Saturday, January 17, we are approaching Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which falls on Monday, January 19, 2026. Because of this, the New York Stock Exchange will remain closed through the entire weekend and all of Monday. You won't see any "Core Trading" action until Tuesday morning, January 20.
Honestly, it’s easy to get tripped up. Most government offices and banks close on certain days—like Columbus Day or Veterans Day—where the stock market actually stays open. It’s not a 1:1 match. The NYSE and Nasdaq are private entities, even if they feel like public utilities, so they set their own rules based on historical precedent and industry agreements.
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Major 2026 NYSE Closures
If you're planning your trading year, here are the days when the exchange is definitely taking a nap:
- New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: Monday, January 19 (That's this coming Monday!)
- Presidents' Day: Monday, February 16
- Good Friday: April 3
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 25
- Juneteenth: Friday, June 19
- Independence Day: Observed on Friday, July 3
- Labor Day: Monday, September 7
- Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 26
- Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
Standard Trading Hours vs. The "Invisible" Market
Even when the answer to is the New York Stock Exchange open today is a "yes" during the week, it doesn't mean trading is only happening between 9:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. That's just the "Core Session."
Most retail traders use apps that allow for extended hours. This is where things get kinda complicated.
The NYSE Arca, for example, actually starts its "Early Trading Session" as early as 4:00 a.m. ET. Then there is the "Late Trading Session" that runs from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET. If you see prices moving at 6:00 a.m. on a Tuesday, that's what's happening. It’s the electronic communication networks (ECNs) matching buyers and sellers outside the main floor hours.
But weekends? Total dead zone. No amount of "after-hours" access is going to let you trade a stock listed on the NYSE on a Saturday afternoon.
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Why Does the NYSE Close on Weekends?
It seems a bit archaic, right? In an age where you can buy Bitcoin at 3:00 a.m. on a Sunday or order a pizza with a tweet, why does the world's largest stock exchange still take two days off?
Basically, it's about liquidity and stability.
If the market were open 24/7, big institutional banks would have to staff their desks around the clock. Without a concentrated "open" and "close," the volume of trades would be spread too thin. This would lead to massive "spreads"—the difference between the price someone wants to sell at and the price someone wants to buy at. Huge spreads mean you get a worse deal on your trade.
By forcing everyone to trade during the same window, the NYSE ensures there is a massive pool of money moving at once. This keeps prices stable and "fair." Plus, it gives companies time to release news—like earnings reports or merger announcements—without the stock price spiraling out of control in a low-volume environment.
What if You Need to Trade Right Now?
Since you've realized the NYSE is closed today, you might be wondering if there are any alternatives.
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- Cryptocurrency: This is the only major market that truly never sleeps. If you've got the itch to watch candles move on a Saturday, crypto is your only real bet.
- Futures: Most futures markets (like gold or S&P 500 futures) open on Sunday evenings around 6:00 p.m. ET. So, you only have to wait about 24 more hours to see where the "sentiment" is heading for the Monday open.
- Foreign Markets: Occasionally, if it’s a weekday in another part of the world but a holiday in the US, you can see action on the LSE (London) or the Nikkei (Japan). But since today is Saturday everywhere, those are closed too.
What Happens to My Pending Orders?
If you placed a "Market Order" on your app right now, it’s just going to sit there. It’ll be "Pending" or "Queued."
The second the market opens—or the pre-market session begins on Tuesday morning—your broker will try to fill that order. A word of warning: trading at the literal second the market opens after a long 3-day weekend is risky. Prices often "gap" up or down based on news that happened while the market was closed. Your "Market Order" might execute at a much higher or lower price than you expected.
Actionable Steps for This Weekend
Since the market is closed, use the downtime effectively.
- Review your "Stop Losses": Long weekends are notorious for "gap-down" openings on Tuesday. If there’s bad geopolitical news over the next 48 hours, the market won't wait for you to sell at 9:30 a.m.; it will just open lower.
- Check the Economic Calendar: Tuesday and Wednesday usually see a flood of data because of the Monday holiday. Look for CPI data or Fed announcements that might have been shifted.
- Audit Your Positions: Take an hour to look at your winners and losers without the emotional stress of watching the price flicker up and down.
The market being closed isn't a hurdle; it’s a breather. The New York Stock Exchange will be back in action on Tuesday, January 20, at 9:30 a.m. ET. Use the next few days to get your strategy straight so you aren't reacting emotionally when the bells finally ring.
Next Steps for You:
Check your brokerage app to see if you have any "Good 'Til Canceled" (GTC) orders that might trigger on Tuesday morning. If you're holding positions through the weekend, keep an eye on international news cycles, as these will dictate the "Gap" price when the NYSE resumes core trading.